KINGSTON, Ont. (May 14, 2024) – Queen’s Athletics & Recreation announced today that Ryan Ratushniak will step down as head coach of Queen’s Women’s Volleyball after seven years with the program to return home to Manitoba.
“I am very honoured and grateful to have been the leader of this program for the last seven years and work with so many amazing student-athletes, coaches and administrative staff at Queen’s University,” Ratushniak said. “My growth and learning during this time as a coach and as a person was a direct result of working with all of these tremendous people. I would like to thank everyone who I have worked with for giving so much of themselves to this team. I am so proud of this program on and off the volleyball court. The team culture is strong and supportive and I know there will be great things to come for Queen’s Women’s Volleyball and all our student-athletes in the future.”
Ratushniak led the Gaels to the OUA Playoffs in all six seasons he spent with Queen’s, and captured the OUA silver medal in 2022-23.
This past year, Ratushniak was named OUA Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading Queen’s to an 18-2 regular season record (tied for first in the conference) and the OUA semifinals.
Ratushniak’s overall record at Queen’s is 77-32, with an additional four wins earned in the postseason.
During Ratushniak’s time as head coach at Queen’s, 21 student-athletes from the Women’s Volleyball program have been named OUA All-Stars, and two All-Canadians.
Additionally, three student-athletes have won major awards at the conference level during Ratushniak’s coaching tenure at Queen’s, with Julia Wiercigroch being named OUA East Rookie of the Year for the 2017-18 season, Caroline Livingston winning the OUA East Award of Merit in 2018-19, and Hannah Duchesneau the OUA Player of the Year this past season.
And 41 student-athletes were recognized as Academic All-Canadians during Ratushniak’s tenure as Queen’s Women’s Volleyball head coach.
Ratushniak has also helped three student-athletes sign professional contracts during his time at Queen’s in Livingston, Natalie Crews and Arielle Palermo.
“I’d like to congratulate Ryan on his incredible success with the Queen’s Women’s Volleyball program for the past seven years and wish him all the best,” said Linda Melnick, Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation. “Ryan provided a tremendous environment for the student-athletes in the Women’s Volleyball program, helping them reach their highest potential. His enduring influence on the program and within the community will have a lasting impact, and will help shape the direction of the program moving forward.”
Ratushniak is a former assistant coach with both Canada’s Women’s and Men’s National teams, coaching in more than 50 international matches with the women’s team. Ratushniak was also an assistant coach and team manager with the 2019 Canadian Women’s FISU Games team that competed at the World Universiade Games in Naples, Italy.
He has also served as an assistant coach for University of Manitoba Men’s Team and as the Manager of Athletics and Recreation Services at Red River College in Winnipeg, Man.
Ratushniak is a Manitoba alumnus and played five years for the Bisons, winning 3 U SPORTS National Championships.
A search for the next Head Coach of the Queen’s Women’s Volleyball program will soon be underway.
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